Island Books in Order

The Island series by Victoria Hislop transports readers to the vibrant, sun-drenched landscape of Crete, specifically focusing on the small fishing village of Plaka and the imposing fortress island of Spinalonga just across the water. While the Mediterranean setting is undeniably beautiful, the history attached to it is heavy with sorrow and silence. The narrative usually begins with a modern quest for answers, as a younger generation seeks to understand the hidden past of their elders. It kicks off when Alexis Fielding, confused by her mother Sofia’s refusal to speak about her background, travels to Greece and unlocks a multi-generational family saga that has been kept under wraps for decades.

At the heart of the series is the Petrakis family and their painful, intimate connection to Spinalonga. For a large part of the twentieth century, this island served as a leper colony. The story explores the terrifying reality for the residents of Plaka: a diagnosis of Hansen’s disease meant immediate banishment across the narrow strip of sea, separating husbands from wives and parents from children. However, the books do a wonderful job of subverting the expectation that the colony was merely a dark, miserable prison. Instead, the narrative portrays the exiles as resilient people who built a functioning society complete with tavernas, schools, dignity, and hope, even while living in isolation.

The emotional weight of the drama rests largely on the Petrakis women. It begins with Eleni, a schoolteacher who is forced to leave her family behind after discovering a patch of pale skin. As her daughters, Anna and Maria, grow up without her, their lives diverge sharply. Anna is portrayed as restless, ambitious, and eager to marry into wealth to escape her humble roots. In contrast, Maria is dutiful, compassionate, and deeply connected to her community. The contrast between the sisters—and the complicated relationships they have with the men in the village—drives much of the conflict, creating a web of betrayal and loyalty that complicates the medical tragedy.

The series is not limited to the years of the epidemic. Later parts of the story, particularly in the sequel One August Night, explore the complex aftermath of the colony’s closure in 1957. The discovery of a cure should have been a moment of pure joy, but the narrative reveals that the end of the disease did not mean the end of the suffering. During a night of celebration to mark the return of the exiles, a crime of passion occurs that scatters the family once again.

Ultimately, this is a story about more than just history. It is a poignant look at the stigma of being labeled "unclean" and the incredible strength required to survive it. It examines how family secrets fester when left in the dark, the long-term emotional scars of separation, and the difficult road toward healing and forgiveness.